Paris - The hoped-for return of Maria Sharapova has now likely been pushed back to the Indian Wells event in early March in California after the injured former number 1 Russian withdrew from next week's indoor tournament in Paris.

Sharapova missed her Australian Open title defence and has played only one match since Wimbledon in July as she defeated Poland's Marta Domachowska in Montreal before being forced to quit that event.

Paris  - French President Nicolas Sarkozy late Thursday came to the defence of Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who has been accused of conflict of interest.

"Bernard Kouchner has my total trust," Sarkozy said during an appearance on national television to discuss the economic crisis.

A book published Wednesday accused Kouchner of using his position as head of a public health organization to carry out high-paying consulting activities in Africa for private companies.

Paris  - French President Nicolas Sarkozy demanded late Thursday that the European Union adopt a common position to reform the capitalist system.

During a 90-minute appearance on national television to discuss the economic crisis, Sarkozy also criticized the European Union for passivity in the face of the crisis.

"It is not possible that, in such a situation, Europe does not take the initiative," Sarkozy said, indirectly criticizing the Czech presidency and the European Commission.

Paris - A court in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Thursday fined the